What is Physical Therapy? What is Physiotherapy? Who are Physiotherapists and what can they do for me? Mike Squirrell Physiotherapy and Sports Injury Clinic, Harley Street, have the answers to your pain problems. Don't take the pain; seek treatment at our Harley Street clinic.
Physiotherapy/Physical Therapy Harley Street
Physical therapy, Physiotherapy in many English speaking countries, is a health care profession which provides services to individuals and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout life. This includes providing services in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by ageing, injury, disease or environmental factors. Functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy.
Physical therapy is concerned with identifying and maximising quality of life and movement potential within the spheres of promotion, prevention, treatment/intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation. This encompasses physical, psychological, emotional, and social wellbeing. Physical therapy involves the interaction between physical therapist (PT), patients/clients, other health professionals, families, care-givers, and communities in a process where movement potential is assessed and goals are agreed upon, using knowledge and skills unique to physical therapists.
PTs utilise an individual's history and physical examination to arrive at a diagnosis and establish a management plan, and when necessary, incorporate the results of laboratory and imaging studies. Electrodiagnostic testing (e.g. electromyograms and nerve conduction velocity testing) may also be of assistance.
Physical therapy has many specialties including cardiopulmonary, geriatrics, neurologic, orthopaedic and pediatrics to name some of the more common areas. PTs practice in many settings, such as outpatient clinics or offices, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, extended care facilities, private homes, education and research centers, schools, hospices, industrial workplaces or other occupational environments, fitness centers and sports training facilities.
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What can Harley Street Physiotherapy treat?
Physiotherapists help people of all ages who have physical problems caused by illness, accident or ageing. They also work with stroke patients, children and people who have mental health problems. An important part of a physiotherapist's role involves understanding the cultural, psychological and social factors that affect their patients.
Physiotherapy, sometimes referred to as physio, helps people to improve their range of movement in order to promote health and wellbeing. This can help people to live more independently. In particular, physiotherapists concentrate on problems that affect muscles, bones, the heart, circulation and lungs. Physiotherapy involves a range of treatments, including manipulation, massage, exercise, electrotherapy and hydrotherapy.
Physiotherapy techniques can improve the ability to use parts of the body that have been affected by disease or injury. For example, arthritis is a long-term condition that causes painful and stiff joints. Physiotherapy can help to keep the joints mobile (able to move) and strengthen the surrounding muscles.
Physiotherapists may work in hospitals, private practices or with the social services. Working with the social services, for example, they provide care in the community for elderly people.
Courtesy of NHS/Physiotherapy
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What governing bodies monitor Physiotherapists?
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy
The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy is the professional, educational and trade union body for the country's 47,000 chartered physiotherapists, physiotherapy students and assistants. It aims to support its members and help them to provide the highest standards of patient care.
The Society is a member-led organisation, governed by the CSP Council. This is made up of elected CSP members and is supported by a system of boards, branches, committees and groups. The CSP provides an exceptionally wide range of member services and is also a campaigning organisation, speaking up for physiotherapists and promoting the physiotherapy profession.
The UK Health Professions Council
The UK Health Professions Council is a regulator and was set up to protect the public. To do this, they keep a register of health professionals who meet their standards for their training, professional skills, behaviour and health.
The UK Health Professions Council currently regulates 13 health professions: Arts therapists, Biomedical scientists, Chiropodists/podiatrists, Clinical scientists, Dietitians, Occupational therapists, Operating department practitioners, Orthoptists, Paramedics, Physiotherapists, Prosthetists/orthotists, Radiographers, Speech and language therapists. All of these professions have at least one professional title that is protected by law, including those shown above. This means, for example, that anyone using the titles 'physiotherapist' or 'dietitian' must be registered with us.
Mike Squirrell Physiotherapy & Sports Injury CSP registration member No. 064732
The UK Health Professions Council registration member No. PH 59486
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